Flush tank valve



Oct. 11, 1966 v s. s. CHEITEN 3,

FLUSH TANK VALVE Filed Sept. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

; G4- AMUEL S. CHE/TEN BY v AT TORNEY Oct. 11, 1966 s. s. CHEITEN 3,

' FLUSH TANK VALVE Filed Sept. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOK SAMUEL S. CHEI TEN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,277,497 FLUSH TANK VALVE Samuel S. Cheiten, 317 Magnolia St., Highland Park, NJ. Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,815 9 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) This invention relates to water flush tanks and to ball valves for use in such tanks. Such valves are known as tank balls.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial Number 275,292, filed April 24, 1963, now abandoned.

A water tank, for example, for flushing a toilet, includes a rubber tank ball which is seated in a water outlet pipe at the bottom of the tank. In most water tanks, the tank ball is supported at the end of a lift rod which is slidably supported in a vertical guide sleeve carried by a horizontal arm, the horizontal arm being secured to a vertical overflow pipe. When the tank ball is raised off its seat by force applied to the lift rod, the water flows out of the tank. After the tank has emptied, the tank ball drops into the outlet pipe to close it again and allow the tank to be refilled for the next cycle of operation.

Many types, shapes, and sizes of tank balls are known and available commercially, and, while they operate generally satisfactorily, all fail to seat properly at frequent intervfls. Moreover, when a tank ball does not seat properly water continues to flow from the tank.

It is my belief, however, that if a tank ball could be raised vertically without any movement to the side or tilting during the flushing operation, and maintained vertically aligned with the water outlet pipe until the tank has emptied, it would invariably drop correctly into place in the outlet pipe after the flushing operation has been completed. It is also my belief that in conventional flush tanks, the tank ball invariably moves sidewise as it is raised, because of the presence of the vertical overflow pipe serving to obstruct the flow of discharge water from one side of the outlet pipe and thus creating an unbalanced sidewise force on the tank ball. Many observations of flush tanks in operation have substantiated this belief. Indeed, the reason for this sidewise movement appears to be inherent in the operation and construction of con ventional flush tanks.

The construction of conventional flush tanks for toilets is such that the linkage employed to flush the tank, typically upon the turning of a handle or depression of a foot pedal, is loosely coupled to the left rod in order merely to initiate the upward movement of the lift rod and attached tank ball, and then permit the lift rod and ball to continue their upward motion under the driving force of the discharging water pressing against the lower surface of the tank ball. Indeed, tank balls are uniformly tapered along their lower surface to maximize the upward thrust exerted upon the ball by the discharging water, and characteristically, the size and shape of the outlet pipe opening is such as to receive the entire tapered portion of the tank ball so that the upward thrust on the ball is essentially nonexistent until the upward movement of the ball is initiated by the attached mechanical linkage. Thus, the initiation of this upward movement starts the discharging water in motion and, at the same time, exposes the lower tapered surface of the ball so that the force of the discharging water exerts an upward force on the ball.

While the loose coupling between the actuating linkage and the lift rod advantageously avoids any lateral motion being imparted to the lift rod as a consequence of the arcuate movement of the linkage, it renders the path of the upward motion of the lift rod and ball entirely dependent upon the force of the discharging water. If

3,277,497 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 the flow of discharging water happens to be symmetrical, the upward path of the lift rod will be vertical, but not otherwise. Unfortunately, however, the flow of the discharging water in conventional flush tanks is not symmetrical. Instead, as already mentioned, the flow of water from one side of the outlet pipe is impeded by the presence of a large-diameter vertical overflow pipe, whereas it is unimpeded by any corresponding structure on the opposite side and, as a consequence, an unbalanced discharge flow pattern results and the lift rod and ball do not rise vertically. Ratherand this has been verified by repeated observations-Abe tank ball is invariably driven toward the vertical overflow pipe by the unbalanced flow of discharge water from the opposite direction, and the lift rod is consequently tilted, in some cases to a very considerable angle, from a vertical axis passing through the Water outlet pipe. With the tank ball tilted in this manner, when it drops downwardly to seat in the water outlet pipe, it oftens comes to rest on the edge of the pipe and does not completely obstruct the pipe. And the discharge water continues to flow.

This problem is magnified, if not in part generated, by the fact that the sleeve through which the lift rod passes as the rod and ball move up and down must be a rather loose fit. However, although a tighter fit between the lift rod and guiding sleeve would tend to restrict the lateral movement of the lift rod, corrosion occurs on the surface of these parts so readily in the moist atmosphere of the flush tank that the fit cannot safely be reduced without risking a complete obstruction of the passage of the rod through the sleeve.

Many elaborate modifications in tank ball operating mechanisms have been suggested to avoid the problem of a leaky toilet, all of which are relatively complex and expensive and apparently ineffective.

The primary object of the present invention is, therefore, to solve the leaky toilet problem by means of an improved tank ball which includes in its construction means for improving the seating of the ball and the operation of a fluid flush tank.

Briefly, a tank ball embodying my invention comprises a generally spheroidal body having a top wall which carries a mechanical fitting or coupling means to which a ball-lifting rod is to be secured, together with a flared or tapered, flexible sleeve or collar extending upwardly from the top Wall of the tank ball, the mini-mum diameter of the tapered collar being larger than the mechanical fitting to which the lifting rod is secured so that it surrounds the fitting, but being smaller than the diameter of the top wall. Also, the tank ball of the present invention is made sufliciently buoyant, preferably being hollow and having thin Walls of first-grade rubber with a large tapered outer surface, that in operation its tapered collar is forced against the horizontal cross arm which carries the vertical guide sleeve.

In operation, when the tank ball of the present inven tion is raised off the outlet pipe, and the tank begins to flush, the lift rod and tank ball are driven upwardly by the flow of discharging water and disadvantageously, because of the unbalanced flow of discharge water, it is tilted toward the overflow pipe. However, because of its buoyancy, it continues upwardly under the force of the discharging water, until its tapered collar is compressed against the horizontal cross arm. The effect of this is to straighten the lift rod to some extent and, at the same time, to compress the collar into a leaf-spring type position, so that when the tank has emptied and the tank ball is free to return to its seat in the outlet pipe, the leafspring action of the flexed collar provides a force which serves to return the tilted lift rod to a vertical attitude, and also to impart a generally downward force to the 3 tank ball, thereby achieving an accurate seating of the tank ball.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a tank ball and associated apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a port-ion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 at one stage in its operation;

FIGS. 3a to 3 illustrate schematically an operation of a toilet flush tank utilizing a tank ball embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional, elevational view of a modification of a portion of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional, elevational view of another modification of a portion of the invention.

A flush tank ball valve embodying the present invention may take many shapes. In fact, the principles of the invention may be embodied in substantially any of the many types of tank balls known at the present time.

In general, a tank ball is shown connected to a lift rod 50 which is loosely coupled at its upper end through a mechanical linkage 70 to an actuating lever arm 52. Located intermediate lever arm 52 and the tank ball is a guide sleeve 54 in a horizontal arm 60 supported from an overflow pipe 64, this mechanism being located within a flush tank 46 which generally includes a handle 47 or foot pedal (not shown) for rotating lever 52 to initiate the upward movement of the tank ball and the flushing of the tank. Lift rod 50 is slidably and loosely positioned within guide sleeve 54. The tank ball 10 is normally seated in water outlet pipe 74 located at and extending out of the bottom of tank 46. The tank ball thus controls the flow of water through pipe 74 and out of tank 46.

Tank ball 10 is made of a water-resistant material such as rubber and includes a main body portion 14 which is generally conical in shape and includes a top wall 20. At the center of the top wall, a threaded fitting 24 is provided for receiving the lift rod 50 which is used to lift the ball when it is desired to drain the tank and flush the toilet. The top wall includes a'periphery 34, usually circular, which is secured to or, in effect, merges with, and is intergal with, the main body portion 14. Usually, the ball 10 is molded in one piece.

According to the invention, a flexible colar 40 is secured to, or formed integral with, the top wall 20. The collar is flared or generally frusto-conical or frusto-pyramidal or the like in shape with its small-diameter base 44 secured to the top wall and its large-diameter base 48 above. The collar thus surrounds fitting 24.

The height of the collar depends in part on the mechanical arrangement of apparatus associated with the tank ball 10. In the operation of the invention, it is intended that at least the upper edge or large-diameter base of the collar contact the cross arm 60. Thus, depending upon the shape of the cross arm, the desired contact could be achieved if the upper end of the collar were the same height as, or just below, the top surface of the coupling fitting 24. Preferably, however, the upper end of the collar lies above the top surface of the fitting 24. Also, as mentioned, the base 44 of the collar is secured to the top wall at a convenient location intermediate the center of the wall, Where the threaded fitting 24 is positioned, and its periphery 34.

In addition, the tank ball must be sufficiently buoyant so that it will be moved upwardly far enough during the flushing operation that collar 40 is forced into contact with cross arm 60. This buoyancy is readily achieved by use of a hollow ball of thin walls, preferably of firstgrade rubber which does not include a high percentage of clay, with a large area of tapered outer surface to increase the lift exerted on the ball by the discharging water.

In operation of the tank ball 10 to flush the tank 46, the actuating lever 52 is rotated by means of handle 47 or the like, and vertical rod 50 is thereby raised slightly so as to raise the tank ball off its seat in pipe 74. This permits the water to flow out of the pipe 74 and thus out of the tank. As the water flows out of the tank through pipe 74, and against the tapered section 14 of the tank ball, the tank ball is pushed upwardly. Moreover, since overflow pipe 64 obstructs the discharging water from one direction, creating an unbalance in the flow of the discharge water, the tank ball is driven toward the over- As the tank ball thus rises and moves laterally toward pipe 64, one segment of the upper end of collar or sleeve 40 bears against the lower edge of cross arm 60. This pressure of sleeve 40 against cross arm 60 limits the lateral and vertical movement of the tank ball and, to some extent, returns the lift rod 50 to a vertical attitude. At the same time, the pressure of the tank ball pressing up against the cross arm causes the collar 40 to flex or bend downwardly and to be placed under compression (FIG. 2). This feature of the invention is aided by the way in which the sleeve 40 is tapered. Because of the taper of the sleeve, a relatively large surface area is presented to cross arm 60, which facilitates the flexing of the sleeve by cross arm 60 and gives rise to a leaf-spring type of action in the sleeve.

Also, the desirability of having the sleeve 40 positioned between the center and periphery of top wall 20, and, preferably, relatively close to the center of the top wall, arises from the fact that the lower surface of cross arm 60 in some flush tanks includes a raised shoulder in the vicinity of guide sleeve 54. This positioning of the sleeve 40 relatively close to the center of top wall 29 insures that the sleeve will bear against such a shoulder when it is present and thus provide the desired operation of the invention. If the sleeve were so positioned that it did not bear against the shoulder or the cross arm 60, the desired operation would not be achieved. Thus, this preferred orientation of the collar near the center of the top wall imparts greater universality to the invention and insures its operability with the largest number of tank mechanisms.

After the tank has emptied and the pressure of the water against the raised ball has been relieved, the flexed collar, being under compression and seeking to return to its normal shape, imparts to the tank ball a force in the direction opposite to that which tilted it away from its vertical axis. Moreover, even though this is a relatively small force, the tank ball and lift rod tend to rotate away from their tilted position and into vertical alignment with pipe 74. The tank ball is thus impelled into proper seating relationship in pipe 74.

FIGS. 3a to 3 show, in a series of steps and in an illustrative manner, the path generally followed by tank ball 10. It will be seen from FIG. 3a that when the up ward motion of the tank ball is initiated by turning a handle to actuate lever 52, the tank ball and lift rod are moved along a vertical line in an upward direction. However, as the water contained in the tank begins to discharge, and thus imparts an additional upward force to the tank ball by exerting pressure on the tapered outer surface thereof, the tank ball is deflected from its vertical ascent. As previously mentioned, the reason for this in large measure is the presence of overflow pipe 64, which impedes the flow of discharge water from one side of the outlet pipe 74. As a consequence of the unbalance thus created in the flow of the discharging water, the tank ball is deflected toward the overflow pipe as shown in FIG. 3b. Also, as indicated in FIG. 30, this deflection toward the overflow pipe continues as the tank ball moves in a generally upwardly direction.

I have found that in the operation of tank ball 10, when the upper edge of the collar meets the cross arm 60 in the course of its upward motion, while there is some straightening of tilted lift rod 50 (compare FIGS. 30 and 3d), the tank ball does not quite achieve a vertical attitude. This is illustrated in FIG. 3a. Instead, the corrective vertical realignment is completed during the downward stroke of the tank ball as a consequence of the offcenter force imparted to the tank ball by the compressed collar. Advantageously, the force imparted to the tank ball, by the leaf-spring action of the collar, is not directly downwardly but is offset in a direction which tends further to compensate for the tilting of the tank ball and its lift rod. Thus, in the downward motion of the tank ball, as a consequence of the offset driving force of the leafspring collar, the ball returns to its initial vertical alignment by the time it reaches the outlet valve so as to meet the outlet valve in a substantial vertical attitude. This action is shown in FIGS. 3d and 3 Moreover, the generally downward force imparted to tank ball by the leaf-spring action of collar 40 insures proper seating of the tank ball in outlet 74.

The tank ball of the invention, and particularly the collar thereof, may take other forms than that described above. For example, referring to FIG. 4, a tank ball 110 includes a generally conical collar 140 which, instead of being thin-walled as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is of a solid, unitary construction. In this form of the invention, the collar 140 includes a generally flat top surface 148 which is provided with a fitting 124 to receive a vertical lifter rod 150.

In still another modification of the invention shown in FIG. 5, a tank hall 210 includes a collar 240 which, again, is not thin-walled but is solid. The collar 240 has a top surface 248 which is tapered downwardly toward the fitting 224 which receives rod 250. If desired, a thin-walled upstanding rim 260 may he provided at the outer edge of the top surface 248 of the collar 246. This type of upstanding rim may be provided in any of the forms of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A tank ball comprising a generally spheroidal body which is buoyant in water,

said body having a top surface and downwardly depending side walls which generally taper inwardly and are adapted to engage the surface of an outlet pipe opening to provide a water-tight seal,

a coupling fitting attached to said top surface substantially at the center thereof and adapted to receive a lift rod for use in raising and lowering the tank ball,

and a flexible sleeve secured to said top surface along an area surrounding the coupling fitting and extending upwardly at least as high as the top surface of said coupling fitting,

the area of attachment between the sleeve and the top surface lying adjacent the coupling and being substantially smaller in transverse dimensions than said top surface.

2. The tank ball defined in claim 1 wherein the transverse dimensions of said sleeve are substantially greater at the upper end of the sleeve than at the area of attachment to said top surface.

3. The tank ball defined in claim 2 wherein the upper end of said sleeve extends above the upper end of the coupling fitting.

4. The tank ball defined in claim 3 wherein the transverse dimensions of the sleeve at its upper end are substantially smaller than the transverse dimensions of the top surface of the spheroidal body.

5. The tank ball defined in claim 3 wherein said sleeve is hollow and tapered outwardly in an upward direction along substantially its entire length.

6. The tank ball defined in claim 3 wherein the sleeve is of thin-walled rubber.

7. A flush tank construction comprising a water tank,

a fluid outlet pipe at the bottom of said tank,

a tank ball adapted to be moved into and out of seating engagement with said fluid flow pipe,

a lift rod coupled to said tank ball,

a horizontal arm in which said lift rod is vertically and slidably positioned,

said tank ball including a top wall and a flexible sleeve rising from said top wall,

said flexible sleeve being adapted to bear against and be flexed by said horizontal cross arm when the tank ball is operated to flush the tank,

said sleeve being flared outwardly from said top wall in an upward direction whereby said sleeve presents a relatively large surface area to said cross arm.

8. A flush tank construction comprising a water tank,

a water outlet at the bottom of said tank,

a tank ball adapted to be moved into and out of seating engagement with said water outlet,

a lift rod coupled to said tank ball for initiating an upward movement of said tank ball out of seating engagement with said water outlet to discharge water from the water tank,

a horizontal arm for supporting said lift rod in vertically slidable condition,

said tank ball including a top Wall and a flexible sleeve secfired to and extending upwardly from said top wa said flexible sleeve being forced against and flexed by said horizontal cross arm by the discharging water from said water tank once the lift rod has initiated an upward movement of said tank ball,

said sleeve 'being flared outwardly from said top wall in an upward direction whereby said sleeve presents a relatively large surface area to said cross arm.

9. A flush tank as set forth in claim 8 further including a vertical overflow pipe positioned within the water tank adjacent the fluid outlet thereof and serving to obstruct the flow of discharge water to said outlet, whereby the pattern of the discharge water flow to said outlet is unbalanced.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,528,098 3/1925 Crane 4-57 2,832,963 5/1958 Minella 4-57 2,925,608 2/ 1960 Gresham 4-57 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. ARTIS, Examiner. 

1. A TANK BALL COMPRISING A GENERALLY SPHEROIDAL BODY WHICH IS BUOYANT IN WATER, SAID BODY HAVING A TOP SURFACE AND DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING SIDE WALLS WHICH GENERALLY TAPER INWARDLY AND ARE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SURFACE OF AN OUTLET PIPE OPENING TO PROVIDE A WATER-TIGHT SEAL, A COUPLING FITTING ATTACHED TO SAID TOP SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE CENTER THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LIFT ROD FOR USE IN RAISING AND LOWERING THE TANK BALL, AND A FLEXIBLE SLEEVE SECURED TO SAID TOP SURFACE ALONG AN AREA SURROUNDING THE COUPLING FITTING AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY AT LEAST AS HIGH AS THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID COUPLING FITTING. THE AREA OF ATTACHMENT BETWEEN THE SLEEVE AND THE TOP SURFACE LYING ADJACENT THE COUPLING AND BEING SUB- 